‘One Country, Two Systems’ key for Macau’s lasting prosperity, stability: experts

BEIJING – The “One Country, Two Systems” policy is the key for Macau to maintaining its lasting prosperity and stability, said international experts when commending President Xi Jinping’s speech at a gathering in celebration of the 20th anniversary of Macau’s return to the motherland yesterday.

Hailing Macao’s past two decades “unprecedented success,” Robert Kuhn, a leading China expert and chairman of the Kuhn Foundation, said, “Macau shows that China takes the ‘One Country, Two Systems’ seriously and that China is committed to its long-term viability.”

Xi aptly underlined and elucidated the historic significance of the “One Country, Two Systems” policy, and rededicated his leadership’s commitment to the “One Country, Two Systems” policy, said Swaran Singh, a professor at the School of International Studies of the New Delhi-based Jawaharlal Nehru University.

“President Xi’s speech highlighted the successful implementation of ‘One Country, Two Systems’ in Macau for the past 20 years,” said Sheriff Ghali, a professor of political science at the University of Abuja in Nigeria.

Macau has grown into a more diversified economy with new drivers injected by the integrated development plan of the central government, said Ghali. “It is impressive that for the years Macau has been exercising its right of high level autonomy.”

Macau has achieved impressive growth and progress since its return to the motherland in 1999, said Alan Barrell, a Cambridge University expert. “The Chinese government has been very active in supporting the plans for Macau to build a diversified economy.”

“Macau sits in an enviable position to thrive,” said Adhere Cavince, a Kenyan international relations expert. “Macau provides compelling evidence of what is possible under the faithful and constructive implementation of the ‘One Country, Two Systems.’”